Murray quizzed about decision at Union Station

WORCESTER 
Gov. Deval L. Patrick and Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray were welcomed warmly by a mainly Democratic crowd at Union Station today, but the media scrum was a different matter. Just hours after news broke that Mr. Murray would not run for governor, cameramen and reporters surrounded him and the governor asking questions that at one point filtered down to one word: “Crash? Crash?”

The reporters wanted to know whether questions surrounding Mr. Murray's sober but high-speed crash on Interstate 190 in November 2011 were a factor in his decision not to run. They also asked whether his ties to former Chelsea Housing Authority director Michael E. McLaughlin played into the decision. Mr. McLaughlin is being investigated on matters that include possibly criminal fundraising for Mr. Murray.

Mr. Murray's response was to reiterate several times that the decision was about spending more time with his wife and two young daughters. Then he stopped answering questions.

Mr. Murray's decision not to run was the news of the day, but he and the governor spent the earlier parts of their visits to Worcester in a cabinet meeting and stumping for the administration's proposal to raise new tax money for transportation and education. The proposal would cut the sales tax from 6.25 percent to 4.5 percent and raise the income tax from 5.25 percent to 6.25 percent. It would also eliminate many itemized deductions but double the personal exemption amounts. Those moves, combined with closing loopholes and deductions in corporate income tax, would generate $1.9 billion in new revenues annually.

On the transportation side, the administration proposes spending that money on expanded commuter rail and subway service, bus lines and improvements to highways and state roads. On the education side, the money would create more preschool slots, increase the school day or year at high-need middle schools, and increase funding for higher education.

In Central Massachusetts, the proposal would give $11.1 million more to the Worcester Regional Transit Authority in fiscal '14, improve the interchange of Interstates 495 and 90 and the interchange of I-495 and Route 9, make improves to Routes 9 and 20 and rebuild Quinsigamond Avenue in Worcester. On the school side, it would fund vouchers and/or create preschool spots for the nearly 2,700 children in Central Massachusetts who are on a waitlist for a voucher.

“You get excited, obviously, because you know what the benefit could be,” City Manager Michael V. O'Brien said. But he added that he is “battle-hardened” enough to know there is a long process between idea and implementation. “Let the debate begin,” he said.

State Rep. James J. O'Day, D-West Boylston, is among those who believes new revenue is needed. He was one of two people who sponsored a bill supported by the Campaign for Our Communities, a group of 120 organizations including the Massachusetts Teachers Association, that would increase income tax rates and increase personal exemptions. Mr. O'Day said he has not seen all the details of the governor's plan but believes the proposal is the start of a conversation.

There will be plenty of details to contemplate. On the education side, for instance, the governor proposes to continue changes to Chapter 70 state education aid that would guarantee every district receives at least 17.5 percent of their required school spending – called the foundation budget - from the state. That means increases for wealthy cities and towns. Worcester already gets two-thirds of its required education spending from the state.

Worcester Superintendent Melinda J. Boone said a more important issue for her is the fact that the foundation formula underestimates school costs in general. While wealthier towns opt to pay higher taxes to supplement that, urban districts including Worcester generally do not. “The question for me in what the governor has is will this get us closer to addressing the underfunding issue,” Ms. Boone said.

Quinsigamond Community College President Gail E. Carberry told the governor she was “really excited when I saw your agenda,” and early childhood advocates were equally pleased. While there would be “a ramp-up process” to find slots for the preschool children now on the waitlist, “it can be done,” said Dianne Bruce, executive director of Edward Street Child Services.

J. Soto Jr., executive director of Worcester Comprehensive Education & Care, said people need to realize that all children benefit from preschool, not just those most at risk.

The event at Union Station started out with the governor talking about policy and then speaking warmly about Mr. Murray. When Mr. Murray himself took the podium, he received a standing ovation and said he was moved by Gov. Patrick's words.

“Listening to the governor, I feel, well, I'm not at St. John's cemetery yet,” Mr. Murray said. Indeed, he later said he might run for office again someday.